Copyright © 2006 Michel Biezunski The Melting Pot of Information Enabling Multiple Perspectives including Auditing Michel BIEZUNSKI October 11, Fifth Semantic Interoperability Conference, MITRE Conference Center

 Copyright © 2006, Michel Biezunski Semantic Interoperability vs. Multiple Perspectives  Contradictory Requirements  A solution: The Data Projection Model A use case: Auditing Information Where do Topics come from in IRS Tax Map?

 Copyright © 2006, Michel Biezunski Information is a mess – and will always be!  We need to handle the mess, not deny it. We are all different – and will always be!  One format, one schema for all: forget it! There are many different things we want to do, and there are multiple ways in which we can view the information. Information comes from everywhere -- and will always do.  We need information that can be trusted.  Especially from government sources...

 Copyright © 2006, Michel Biezunski Every information item is a step in a process. All processes can be expressed as a set of one-to-one relationships. This is the same idea which is at the core of RDF, Topic Maps and other graph-driven information models. Back to the core! From the elements, rebuild views with multiple perspectives.

 Copyright © 2006, Michel Biezunski Integration of taxonomies, ontologies, emanating from various sources, various people, at various times. Creation of specific views for specific purposes: including maintenance, quality control, reporting, auditing

 Copyright © 2006, Michel Biezunski

 Provide a hospitable environment for items to coexist and connect with each other, even from different origins. Enable freedom of speech: various perspectives on the same information objects. Provide accountability, transparency, so that clear policies can be established. Sounds familiar?

 Copyright © 2006, Michel Biezunski 1 st step: decompose a system into its elementary processes expressed as binary relationships Example :  PERSPECTOR : x operand, operator, y operand 2 nd step: rebuild views integrating the components.  Each view conforms to a given perspective.  Multiple perspectives possible.

 Copyright © 2006, Michel Biezunski Perspective = methods to represent 3- dimensional space on a flat surface. Geometry: laws of perspective express what's invariant given various points of view. Manhattan Bridge, October Photo M. Biezunski

 Copyright © 2006, Michel Biezunski 3D Reality 2D Projection on a plane. Perspective expresses projection from 3D to 2D. Multidimensional (nD) models Binary Relations Form a 2D-like space. Perspectives appear when viewing projected data expressed as binary relations. Reality Projection Perspective

 Copyright © 2006, Michel Biezunski Information systems can be made accountable the same way financial information is. Auditing Information = Viewing information within one given perspective.  Auditing is no more than one particular way of navigating information.

 Copyright © 2006, Michel Biezunski Electronic Research Tool for assistors in call centers & taxpayers  Network navigational model (Topic Map)- Enables research by subject.  Easy to use. Doesn't require any change in the workflow.  Uses combination of automatic processes/manual input. Contains:  Forms/Instructions, Publications, Tax Law FAQ, Tele-Tax Topics Built on XML/SGML work.

 Copyright © 2006, Michel Biezunski

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 If one topic name is entirely contained into another one, they get automatically related.

 Copyright © 2006, Michel Biezunski

 Topics that have three words in common get automatically related.

 Copyright © 2006, Michel Biezunski Generalization  Record processes involved, expressed with a common notation.  Some processes are contained into standard applications: hierarchy in XML documents, taxonomies, relational databases, etc. Applicability: Semantic Integration

 Copyright © 2006, Michel Biezunski Contact:  Michel Biezunski Infoloom (718)